MSU named ‘veteran-friendly’ school

Michigan State University has earned gold status in the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency’s Veteran-Friendly School program.

For the 2015 rankings, 55 schools earned either bronze-, silver- or gold-level status as determined by the number of services they offer to student veterans.

“Nearly half of this year’s veteran-friendly schools achieved a gold-level designation, which is a huge achievement,” said Jeff Barnes, MVAA director. “Whether schools offer an active student veterans club, on-campus support staff, accelerated learning programs for military experience or all of the above and more, veterans attending these institutions have a variety of services and resources available to them as they begin the next chapter of their lives.”

The veteran-friendly designation is available to any institution of higher learning eligible to receive veteran education benefits, regardless of size, location or program delivery. A new application and review process will be conducted every spring semester. Institutions can apply each year for the same, higher or lower ranking.

MSU participates in the Michigan Veteran Education Initiative, an effort to support veterans transitioning to civilian life and to aid in their pursuit of a college education. MSU hired Sarah Mellon in February to run its Veterans Resource Center.